Page 44 of Uriel
I take him in my mouth, marveling at the texture of his skin against my tongue. He tastes salty and muscular and uniquely him. He groans below me, his hands fisting in the sheets as I work my magic. I tease him mercilessly before taking him fully into my mouth, reveling in the way he arches up into me.
Sensing that he’s close, I pull away and straddle him once more. Our eyes lock as I guide him inside me, our twin moans mingling together as we become one. It feels like we were always meant to be this way—connected body and soul.
We move together as one fluid motion, our bodies perfectly in sync with one another’s rhythms. Faster and faster we go until we’re both teetering on the precipice of release again. With one final thrust, we both tumble over the edge together—intertwined limbs and mingled cries filling the air around us.
As our bodies slowly return to earth, we collapse in each other’s arms, our ragged breaths entwining in the cool night air. We lay there for what feels like hours, simply relishing in the closeness of one another.
Finally, he props himself up on one elbow and looks me in the eye. “Wow,” he breathes, a soft smile playing on his lips. Ican’t help but blush under his intense gaze. “That was... more than I could haveeverimagined.”
I duck my head shyly, unable to meet his eyes. “Really?” I mumble into his chest, my cheeks flushing with pleasure at his compliment.
“Absolutely,” he says, brushing a stray strand of hair off my face tenderly. “You’re incredible.”
His words send a tingle down my spine that has nothing to do with the chill in the air. I look up at him then, my eyes filled with wonder and something else... something that scares me even to think about. But this feels right, being here with him like this—as if we were always meant to be together.
He leans in, his lips a breath away from mine, and I can’t help but lurch forward to meet him halfway. Our lips brush softly at first, tentative and unsure, but it only stirs the embers of desire that had been banked by our passionate encounter. Slowly, as if in a trance, we begin to kiss more ardently, our tongues dancing in a sensual waltz as our bodies melt into one another. The world around us fades away, leaving only the two of us lost in each other’s arms.
As we drift off to sleep, I can’t help but think to myself that this is what it must feel like to be truly happy—to have found that one person who makes you feel whole and complete just by being by your side. And in that moment, I know that no matter what happens tomorrow or the next day or the day after that, tonight will always be etched into my heart as the night where everything changed for the better. Because tonight was more than just two people coming together; tonight was about two souls finding their missing halves and finally becoming whole again.
A former archangel and a social worker, bound not by prophecy or duty, but by choice. By love…
But it’s more than that.
It’s a beginning. Our beautifully human beginning.
CHAPTER 21
Uriel
The predawn airis crisp against my skin as I pace the terrace, my bare feet silent on the cool stone. The sky is just beginning to lighten, a faint glow on the horizon promising the arrival of a new day. It’s a sight I’ve witnessed countless times over millennia, yet this morning, it feels entirely new.
BecauseIam new. Human. Truly, completely human.
I pause at the railing, gripping it tightly as I gaze out over the sleeping city below. The sensations are overwhelming—the roughness of the stone under my palms, the chill of the morning air raising goosebumps on my arms, the faint ache in my muscles from yesterday’s exertions. Each sensation is a reminder of my newfound mortality, both thrilling and terrifying in its intensity.
Inside, Emilia sleeps peacefully, her presence a comforting warmth even from this distance. I’m still marveling at the depth of emotion she stirs in me. Love, desire, tenderness—feelings I’d observed in humans for eons but never truly understood until now.
A soft rustle of feathers breaks the silence, and I turn, unsurprised to find Azrael standing behind me. Gone is his usual irreverent gear; instead, he wears a black leather jacket over a fitted dark shirt, paired with sleek denim and polished boots. Though his look is modern and understated, his presence alone makes it clear that the Angel of Death stands before me.
“Adjusting well to themortal coil, brother?” he asks, a hint of his usual mischief in his tone.
I offer a wry smile. “It’s... intense. Every sensation, every emotion—it’s all so much more than I expected.”
Azrael nods, understanding in his eyes. “Humanity’s not for the faint of heart. But then again, neither is giving up divinity to save the world. Quite the grand gesture, Uri. You’ve impressed some pretty important people upstairs.”
There’s a weight to his words that makes me straighten, alert.
“I come bearing a message,” Azrael says, his tone uncharacteristically solemn. “From the Boss Himself.”
A tremor runs through me, caught between eager anticipation and a sensation bordering on fear. Even as an archangel, direct communication from the Almighty was rare. Now, as a mortal, the idea is almost overwhelming.
Azrael continues, “He was moved by your selfless action to protect humanity. Said it showed a level of understanding and compassion that was... unexpected.”
I wait, hardly daring to breathe, as Azrael reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a small, gleaming object—a golden pin in the shape of a pair of wings.
“A gift,” he says, holding it out to me. “From Him.”
With trembling hands, I take the pin. It’s warm to the touch, almost alive, and for a moment, I could swear I feel an echo of my lost grace.
